Tray assembly for a barbecue device

ABSTRACT

A tray assembly for a barbecue device has a support rod composed of two telescoping tubes, multiple sleeves and multiple trays. Each sleeve is pivotally and detachably mounted on the support rod and has at least one lateral rod extending from the sleeve. The multiple trays are individually and detachably mounted on the lateral rods of the sleeves, wherein each of the multiple trays has a connecting tube engaged one corresponding lateral rod. By rotating the sleeves, the multiple trays can be adjusted to different positions in horizontal plane. By adjusting the two telescoping tubes, the multiple trays can be adjusted in height. Therefore, the tray assembly is convenient and versatile in use. Moreover, all elements in the tray assembly can be detached so that the tray assembly is also convenient for store.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tray assembly for a barbecue device, and more particularly a tray assembly that has multiple trays that are rotatable in horizontal plane and adjustable in height so that the tray assembly is convenient in use.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to US D485, 116 S patent, a conventional bar-B-Q oven that has a support plate located under a fire box. Because the support plate is low and can not be adjusted freely in height, the conventional bar-B-Q oven is inconvenient in use when users want to place objects on the support plate.

Another conventional easy-to-assemble barbecue device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,210, wherein the barbecue device can be attached on the ground and conveniently assembled. However, the barbecue device does not have any device for resting foods or other barbecue accessories during barbecue time.

The present invention has arisen to provide a tray assembly for a barbecue device to eliminate or obviate the drawbacks of the conventional barbecue devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main objective of the invention is to provide a tray assembly that has multiple trays rotatable in horizontal plane and adjustable in height as well to provide convenient means for resting food or barbecue accessories.

Another main objective of the invention is to provide a tray assembly that can be disassembled conveniently.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the tray assembly in the present invention comprises:

a support rod composed of two an upper tube and a lower tube telescoping with each other;

multiple sleeves pivotally and detachably mounted on the upper tube of the supporting rod, wherein each of the multiple sleeves has at least one lateral rod extending from the sleeve and a screw nub fixing the sleeve on the upper tube; and

multiple trays individually and detachably mounted on the lateral rods of the sleeves, wherein each of the multiple trays has a connecting tube engaged one corresponding lateral rod 21.

By rotating the sleeves, the multiple trays can be adjusted to different positions in horizontal plane. Moreover, by adjusting the two telescoping tubes, the multiple trays can be adjusted in height. Therefore, the tray assembly is convenient and versatile in use.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tray assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is side view of the tray assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view of the tray assembly in FIG. 3, wherein a telescoping tube is adjusted in height;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the tray assembly observed from A-direction in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an operational top view of the tray assembly in FIG. 5, wherein multiple trays are adjusted in horizontal plane;

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of the tray assembly, wherein the tray assembly combines with a barbecue device;

FIG. 8 is an operational exploded perspective view of the tray assembly in FIG. 7, wherein foods are placed on the multiple trays;

FIG. 9 is a side plane view of the tray assembly in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an operational side plane view of the tray assembly that combines with a tripod;

FIG. 11 is an operational side plane view of the tray assembly that combines with a dome-shaped base;

FIGS. 12A-12D are perspective views of four preferred embodiments of sleeves in the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an operational view of the tray assembly, wherein the tray assembly is decomposed and neatly stored in a container;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the sleeve in the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an operational cross-sectional top view of the sleeve in FIG. 14, wherein the sleeve is assembled;

FIG. 16 is a side plan view of the sleeve in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 is an operational side view of the tray assembly that combines with a sunshade and an infrared stove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A tray assembly for a barbecue device in accordance with the present invention has a support rod composed of two telescoping tubes, multiple sleeves and multiple trays. Each sleeve is pivotally and detachably mounted on the supporting rod and has at least one lateral rod extending from the sleeve. The multiple trays are individually and detachably mounted on the lateral rods of the sleeves, wherein each of the multiple trays has a connecting tube engaged one corresponding lateral rod. By rotating the sleeves, the multiple trays can be adjusted to different positions in horizontal plane. By adjusting the two telescoping tubes, the multiple trays can be adjusted in height.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of a tray assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a support rod 1, multiple sleeves 2 and multiple trays 3. Moreover, the tray assembly further comprises an optional barbecue device and an optional tripod 5 or a dome-shaped base 6 (shown in FIGS. 7-11 and 17).

The rod 1 is composed of two telescoping tubes, i.e. an upper tube 11 and a lower tube 12, slidably and rotatably telescoped with each other. With further reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper tube has a top detachably engaged a socket 41 under an optional barbecue stove 4 or a similar barbecue device. Additionally, the support rod 1 can be selectively composed of at least three telescoping tubes if necessary in design.

Each sleeve 2 is pivotally mounted on the upper tube 11 or the lower tube 12 of the support rod 1 and has a side wall and a lateral rod 21 extending outward from the side wall. Therefore, the tray assembly has multiple lateral rods 21. Moreover, each sleeve 2 has a screw nub (not numbered) to operationally secure the sleeve 2 on the support rod 1. With further reference to FIGS. 12A to 12D, four embodiments of the sleeves 2 respectively have one, two, three or four lateral rods 21 extending from the side wall with equal intervals between two adjacent lateral rods 21.

The multiple trays 3 are individually and detachably mounted on the multiple lateral rods 21 on the corresponding sleeves 2. Each tray 3 has a bottom face and a connecting tube 31 firmly attached to the bottom face of the tray 3 to engage one corresponding lateral rod 21 on the sleeve 2 (as shown in FIG. 7). Preferably, the connecting tube 31 and the lateral rod 21 are polygonal, such as rectangular shown in FIG. 2, to make the tray 3 not rotatable.

The tray assembly in the present can selectively cooperates with the barbecue stove 4 or many accessories for barbecue. With reference to FIG. 10, the support rod 1 has a bottom end detachably mounted on the tripod 5 so that the tray assembly enables to erect on the ground.

With reference to FIG. 11, the bottom end of the support rod 1 is detachably mounted on the dome-shaped base 6 so that the tray assembly enables to erect on the ground.

As shown in FIG. 13, the support rod 1, the multiple sleeves 2, and the multiple trays 3 are detachable so that all elements of the tray assembly can be gathered and accommodated inside an interior of a container such as the barbecue stove 4. Thereby, the tray assembly is conveniently stored and portable.

When the tray assembly is used, the telescoping tubes 11, 12 are adjusted to make the trays 3 on the upper tube 11 to position at different heights as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Moreover, when the screw nub releases the support rod 1, the sleeve 2 is 360° rotatable around the support rod 1 to move the trays 3 to different positions in horizontal plane as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thereby, the tray assembly is adjustable and convenient in operation and has versatile changes to meet different situations.

With reference to FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, still another preferred embodiment of the sleeve 2 is shown in the present invention. The sleeve 2 is composed of two arched brackets 28, 29 and a threaded rod 27. Each arched bracket 28, 29 is substantially half-circular and has two distal ends, an outer periphery, a wing 283, 293, and a lateral rod 284, 294. The wing 283, 293 is integrally formed on one of the distal end of the arched bracket 28, 29 and has a threaded hole 282, 292 defined in the wing 283, 293 to align with the other threaded hole 292, 282. The lateral rod 284, 294 is attached to the outer periphery, extended outward and upwardly, and has a top edge, wherein an angle defined between the outer periphery and the top edge of the lateral rod 284, 294 is less than 90° C. One of the arched bracket 28 has a tongue 281 perpendicularly formed on the other distal end opposite to the one having the wing 283. The other of the arched bracket 29 has a slit 291 defined in the other distal end opposite to the one having the wing 293. By inserting the tongue 281 into the slit 291, the two arched brackets 28, 29 are combined together to achieve the sleeve 2. When the two arched brackets 28, 29 match with each other, threaded holes on the wings 283, 293 align to allow the threaded rod 27 penetrating to fix the two arched brackets 28, 29 together.

With particular reference to FIG. 16, the angle defined between the outer periphery and the lateral rod 284, 294 is less than 90° C. so that the tray 3 is lifted to keep the tray high. Moreover, each lateral rod 284, 294 has a patch (not numbered) connected between the outer periphery and the later rod 284, 294 to enhance strengthen.

Additionally, the tray assembly selectively cooperates with a sunshade 9 and an infrared stove 8 as shown in FIG. 17. The sunshade 9 is mounted on the top of the upper tube 11 of the support rod 1 to provide a shade for people. Three trays 3 are secured on the lower tube 12 by the sleeves 2. A highest tray 3 is combined with the infrared stove 8 that has a heating surface exposing downward. A lowest tray 3 is combined with a grill 82 with food 81 that faces the heating surface on the infrared stove 8. When the infrared stove 8 heats the food, grease from the food drops to the lowest tray 3 directly and does not contact with the infrared stove 8 so that smoke does not occur during barbecue to keep the sunshade 9 form burning and getting greasy.

According to the above description, the tray assembly in the present invention has the following advantages:

1. The tray assembly selectively combines with the barbecue stove 4 or the infrared stove 8 or other accessories to make tray assembly have versatile applications in use. By rotating the sleeves 2, the multiple trays 3 can be adjusted to different positions in horizontal plane to make trays 3 to be reached easily for users. When some trays pivotally move close to the barbecue stove 4, roasted food on the barbecue stove 4 can be moved to the trays soon to avoid the roasted food dropping to the ground.

2. By adjusting the upper tube 11, the multiple trays 3 can be adjusted in height. Therefore, the tray assembly is convenient and versatile in use. Moreover, the upper tube 11 also can be rotated to change an opening direction of the barbecue stove 4 to avoid the wind.

3. The tray assembly selectively engages the tripod 5 or the dome-shaped base 6 so that the tray assembly can conveniently erect on the ground.

4. When the tray assembly combines with the sunshade 9, the infrared stove 8 and the grill 82 in an arrangement as described in the foregoing description, the grease of the roasted food is collected in the tray 3 and does not cause any smoke during barbecue.

5. All elements in the tray assembly can be detached and accommodated in the container so that the tray assembly is also convenient for store.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A tray assembly for a barbecue device comprising: a support rod 1 composed of an upper tube 11 and a lower tube 12 telescoping with each other; multiple sleeves 2 pivotally and detachably mounted on the upper tube 11 of the supporting rod 1, wherein each of the multiple sleeves 2 has at least one lateral rod 21 extending from the sleeve 2 and a screw nub detachably fixing the sleeve 2 on the upper tube 11; and multiple trays 3 individually and detachably mounted on the lateral rods 21 of the sleeves 2, wherein each of the multiple trays 3 has a connecting tube 31 engaged one lateral rod 21 on the corresponding sleeve
 2. 2. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper tube 11 has a top; and the tray assembly has a barbecue stove 4 with a socket 41 to engage the top of the upper tube
 11. 3. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support rod 1 has a bottom end; and the tray assembly further has a tripod 5 to detachably combine with the bottom end of the support rod
 1. 4. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support rod 1 has a bottom end; and the tray assembly further has a dome-shaped base 6 to detachably combine with the bottom end of the support rod
 1. 5. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the multiple sleeves 2 has two lateral rods 21 oppositely formed on the sleeve
 2. 6. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the multiple the sleeves 2 has three lateral rods
 21. 7. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the multiple sleeves 2 has four lateral rods
 21. 8. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the multiple sleeves 2 comprises two arched brackets 28, 29 and a threaded rod 27 combining the two arched brackets 28, 29 together; each of the two brackets 28, 29 is half-circular and has two distal ends; an outer periphery; a wing 283, 293 formed on one of the distal end of the arched bracket 28, 29; and a lateral rod 284, 294 attached to the outer periphery, extended outward and upwardly, and having a top edge and an angle less than 90° C. defined between the outer periphery and the top edge of the lateral rod 284, 294; wherein, one of the two arched bracket 28 has a tongue 281 perpendicularly formed on the other distal end opposite to the distal end having the wing 283; the other of the two arched bracket 29 has a slit 291 defined in the other distal end opposite to the distal end having the wing 293 to engage the tongue
 281. 9. The tray assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lateral rod 21 and each connecting tube 31 are polygonal. 